Gusto Gelato

I don’t often go out for an ice cream. I probably couldn’t tell you the last time I went out specifically for a scoop but that’s not to say I’m not a fan. We generally have a tub in the freezer or Snickers ice cream bars if they are on special, when I tend to get carried away and stock up like an apocalypse is on the way. Way back in the day though, between physics and finance I went to Europe for a few months and I think it is fair to say I ate my body weight in gelato during my time in beautiful Italy. I just fell in love with the stuff! Plus they have so many amazing flavours! There was actually one day in Rome when I tried 10 different flavours in a day. Needless to say I returned home from this holiday with a few extra kg’s but no regrets and I’d do it all again and eat my way through the gelato line up. Such an opportunity will actually present in May 2015 when GG and I head away for our big European adventure and Rome is on the itinerary.

But I digress, let’s talk local gelato. I have previously loved it offshore but around town I’ve not given it much attention and then Sean Lee decided he had enough of his day job as Chief Operating Officer for the Western Force and that his true passion was ice cream! More specifically gelato, so he packed his bags and headed off to Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna. I love that there is such a place and that Sean felt so passionate about gelato that this is where he went. Here he honed his craft and learnt the intricacies of preparing a perfect batch of gelato. From the science behind the right balance and ratios of sugars and fats to ensure you get a lovely creamy consistency to working with fruits or perhaps chocolate or if you want to splash in a little booze. He learnt about the ideal temperatures and he arrived back to Perth full bottle on the process and ready to take on the world. Well maybe not be world (though it’s a matter of time) but luckily for us locals he opened his debut gelato shop in lively Leederville. Say hello to Gusto Gelato.

Only open for a few months now it has garnered a solid reputation for delicious and creative gelato flavours. They are constantly changing up the menu with a recent new addition a coffee and donut creation called the ‘Chief Wiggum‘.

On a recent Saturday I had the chance to get hands on in the gelato making process with a masterclass with the master himself! A small group of super keen bloggers assembled and by our powers combined we prepared a fairly magical batch of milk chocolate gelato. I mixed up the ganache and it took some muscles. I was grateful for my trainer and I kept on stirring and stirring until the decadent ganache mixture was all luxurious and glossy.

Photo Credit: Foodie Cravings

It is an incredibly well equipped kitchen with the churners, numerous fridges and freezers and a blast chiller. They make all their flavourings in house, like the nut pastes where they first roast then shell the nuts, then blitz them to a smooth delicious flavour hit. On the fruit side, any of their fruit gelatos or sorbettos have a minimum of 50% fruit and they only use the best Madagascan vanilla pods and the ever indulgent region specific/single origin Valhorna chocolate for all their chocolate creations. The result of such divine ingredients is a real depth of flavour in their gelatos. It is impactful flavouring at its best and it’s wonderful! Clearly gelato making is a real craft and I feel so pleased that someone with such passion has brought his skills to town.

Now I got to try just a few flavours while I was there and I can vouch for the deliciousness of all 24 flavours that I got to try – milk chocolate, salted caramel, pistachio, hazelnut, vanilla bean, cappuccino, marscapone with cocoa, yoghurt & blueberry, caramelised white choc, apple pie, chocolate fudge brownie, strawberry with dark chocolate, cheesecake, gusto (peanut gelato with choc sauce and brownie chunks), decadent dark chocolate (dairy free and less than 5% fat), coconut milk and mango, orange & passionfruit, mango, pineapple & mint, raspberry, bounty, booze & moos, white chocolate & raspberry and ferrero rocher. Oh yes, it was a very fun morning. Hard to pick a favourite amongst such an array but for me the big winner was the strawberry and dark chocolate – yummo!

So next time you are craving something sweet and chilly, you know where to head! Keep an eye on their Facebook page for all their delicious new flavours!

Gusto Gelato operates from 11am til late at 741 Newcastle Street Leederville and offer a range of flavours for reasonable prices: a single scoop is $5, a double scoop is $8 and a triple scoop is $9.